The African aviation market continues to grow, driven by rising passenger demand, expanding route networks, and increased connectivity across domestic, regional, and international destinations.
Airlines operating in Africa range from established local carriers with decades of experience to major international airlines that link the continent with the rest of the world.
This ranking highlights the leading airlines shaping air travel in Africa, showcasing the carriers that provide the most capacity to meet passenger demand in key markets. The list reflects a dynamic and competitive landscape, where a mix of indigenous African airlines and international carriers coexist to offer passengers a wide range of travel options and contribute to the growth of Africa’s aviation ecosystem.
The ranking below, based on one-way departing seats, is sourced from OAG, specifically the African Aviation Market Data as of October 30, 2025, and provides a snapshot of which airlines lead in capacity across the continent.
Airlink ranks seventh in Africa for one-way departing seats in October 2025, with 434,213 seats, down 10.0% from 482,637 seats recorded in October 2024.
The airline is a privately owned, full-service regional carrier based in South Africa, operating an extensive network across Southern Africa. Founded over three decades ago, Airlink serves more than 45 destinations in 15 African countries and St Helena Island, maintaining a fleet of over 65 aircraft.
Airlink connects major South African cities and regional destinations across Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Tanzania, among others.
The airline also has interline and codeshare partnerships with global carriers, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines, offering passengers greater connectivity throughout Africa and beyond.
De Villiers Engelbrecht serves as Chief Executive Officer of Airlink.
